Morning journal and courier., 1887-09-09
GRANITE STATE RAsCALITY.

MT. Haxen Rises to Explain Why He Changed His VOte-He Receives Con- siderable Credit For His Courageous Actton-Some Startling Exposures Expected i'm the Near Future. CONCORD, N. H., Sept. S.-A decided sen sation was caused in the House this forenoon when Representative Hazen of Whitefeld, who introduced the famous Hazen or Boston and Maine railroad bill, announced that he should vote for the Atherton or Concord
 railroad measure.
 MT. Hazen's action came complete sur
 prise to members of the House and to the
 spectators who thronged the hall, and when
 he announced the transfer of his allegiance to
 the Atherton bill there great outburst
 of applause. MT. Hagen had been until very
 recently staunch supporter of the Boston and Maine road, and had introduced the now famous Hagen bill. What effect his change
 of sentiment will have on the result of the
 railroad controversy is not known.
 The Senate bribery investigation was re-
 sumed this morning, both parties being
 present with their lawyers. Sam K. Page,
 lawyer living in Warner, testified that on Thursday last he went to Lake Sunapee with the two Pierces, General Corse and Fish Commissioners Hodge and Kimball. Senator Sawyer joined the party that evening at Blodgett's Landing. He was introduced to the party by Kirk D. Pierce. During all the time Sawyer was with them Thursday eve ming he and Kirk Pierce seemed to be on he most friendly terms. Witness remorked to Sawyer that they were having big fight down in Concord on the railroad question. He said, "Yes, they are, and there is big pot of money in it, and a man who has vote is big fool if he does not get something | out of it."
 The bond that MT. Hagen referred to in | his statement was for $150,000 and was | voluntarily given by several gentlemen, in cluding ex-United States Senator Pollins, and who represent several millions of dollars, | to the effect that the Concord railroad would build an extension from Whitefeld via Jefferson to Berlin This would be greatly to the advantage of MT. Hazin's constituents ! and when the latter at 8 recent meeting voted 1 almost unanimously in favor of the Atherton | bill supported by the gentlemen who gave the bond MT. Hazen felt it his duty to change | his opinions as to the merits of the respective l measures. He hesitated a long while, how 1 ever, while trying to persuade friends of the Boston and Maine to make similar guaran l tee and as this not forthcoming he had 1 no alternative but to transfer his allegiance ! from his own bill to that which his constit- | uents deemed to be their best interests. Mr. Hazens speech created great excitement and he was enthusiastically applauded for his | courageous action.
 There was no talk on the railroad bill in | the House this afternoon, and there will be ! none until Monday afternoon Tuesday ! morning. This has been the most exciting | day since the opening of the session, and MT. | Hazen's espousal of the AtheTton bill and | abandonment of the Hagen bill, which he in troduced, continues to create much excite ! ment. Next week promises to be decidedly 1 lively one and hints of sensational develop meuts are made. The railroad controversy Is ! at fever heat, and much hard work will be | put in by both sides before the legislature re- assemblies next week.
 Ia the bribery hearing this afternoon Post
 master John McCorse, of Boston, testi-
 fled that he was Kirk & Plerees | guest last week at Lake Sunapee, and not 1 Senator Sawyer, to whom he was | introduced by Pierce. Between the two there seemed to be most friendly feelings. | This was after the alleged attempt at bribery. l Edward H. Mason, sergeant-at arms of the | Senate, saw Pierce and Sawyer conversing in | the corridor last week Wednesday about a. m. He overheard the words "pure lard" and 1 others relating to the bill then pending be- l fore the Senate The two had another con- ferenee two hours later, when witness called l Sawyer from the chamber at Pierce's request l Colonel David s. Corser, messenger of | the United States Senate, testified that he had an interview with Pierce in Contocock last Saturday, when Pierce questioned him l sharply concerning rumors of bribery that | had been circulated on the street. Pierce ap- peared to be ignorant of the parties impli- cated and tried to make him tell who they l were.
 1 Witness fold him he did not know who the l briber was; he did know the other party but
 did not propose to tell him. Pierce seemed
 anxious to know what the Concord road pro- posed to do about it and witness told him
 they proposed to probe the matter to the bot.
 tom. Senator Sawyer was recalled. He had
 no desire, he said, to withdraw any of his former testimony. He repeated the offer alleged to have been made by Pierce, but
 said he did not remember what reply he made to him. This closed the testimony on ! Mir. Sawyer's side.
 Kirk D. Pierce, being called, contradicted I one point asseated by Sawyer in his former | testimony and It was announced that this
 side of the case was closed. The commitlee
 then adjourned until next Tuesday, when
 counsel will sum up.